Tuesday, March 26, 2013

OS91 receives award at Reserve Center

U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Center in Orlando
OS91 was surprised and honored with an award at The U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Center this morning! Chaplain Mike Vidal of Orlando Police Department, COL in the U.S. Military arranged an appointment this morning with COL Garfield Jones, Florida Military Outreach Coordinator at the Navy Reserve Center, who attended OS91's 5th Annual Tribute to Honor America's 1st Responders on February 22nd. Ed and I met with Chaplain Mike and altogether we received a tour of the Naval Center and were able to meet many wonderful Responders. 

COL Garfield Jones was very excited 
to show us his Psalm 91 card 

After our meeting with COL Jones, we sere suddenly escorted right into the Office of the Chief of the Navy Operational Support Center, LSC Nivea Estrada. What an honor! Chief also attended our 5th Annual Tribute Event and was very impressed. Together, Chief, COL Jones, Chaplain Mike, Ed and I planned some wonderful things for next year's 6th Annual Tribute to Honor America's 1st Responders, scheduled for 2/28/14. It is very exciting! In fact, I was so excited that unfortunately I didn't get a photo of Chief Estrada! But this wonderful lady not only had her Psalm 91 card, she eagerly took another one to keep in another place! YAY!

Presentation of Awards to OS91
Then, another sudden transition to a large open place and we were told that we were receiving awards and being pinned! Chaplain Vidal made a speech thanking us for all OS91 does for our Military, we were each presented with a beautiful plaque and pinned. What an honor to receive this token of appreciation!

Nancy Auter shows me her Psalm 91 plaque
After the Ceremony, Nancy Auter, Funeral Honor Guard Coordinator took me to her Office and showed me something very precious to her: a Psalm 91 plaque displayed on her desk. What a gift to me to see how much Psalm 91 means to our Military! OS91's Psalm 91 cards were also on her desk; I didn't miss that! Nancy gladly accepted a pack of  Psalm 91 cards to distribute. 

Ed with Chaplain COL Mike Vidal, OPD
Back outside Ed gave Chaplain Mike a box of "Your Shield and Buckler" Psalm 91 books by Jorge Diaz to distribute. Chaplain Mike has been a blessing to OS91 in the almost 2 years we have known him, making many connections with Chaplains he knows to get out Psalm 91 cards to Responders. His friend Chaplain David Lee of Clarksville, Tennessee Police Department, has distributed 3,000 Psalm 91 cards to Responders not only in CPD but also to the county Sheriff's Department as well as Ft. Cambell! 





Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to all who put this Award together today, especially to Chaplain Vidal who nominated us for this award. We are so honored!  

Sunday, March 17, 2013

OS91 at CFI Church

CFI Pastor Gerry Khourie welcomes Ed to stage

OS91's premiere Church partner, Christ Family International Church www.cfichurch.com of Port St. Lucie, FL welcomed us with open arms today. CFI Pastor Gerry Khourie with his dear wife, Pastor Donnelyn, have been strong and loyal supporters of OS91 for over 2 1/2 years and their congregation has followed in their footsteps!

Ps 91 cards given out 
and donations for cards received
Our heartfelt thanks to all who donated so generously today. We appreciate CFI Church so much! You all will only know in heaven all the Responders who have been touched through your giving!

Friday, March 15, 2013

OS91 participating in Charity Challenge XXVIII Raffle

OS91 partners with Charity Challenge
Donate just $1 per ticket to benefit OS91
Operation Safety 91 has been given a marvelous opportunity this year to partner with Charity Challenge, a nonprofit organization founded in 1987 to raise funds for local charities. www.charitychallengeinc.org. To date, Charity Challenge has raised nearly $5 million for Central Florida Charities through an annual outdoor Event, which will take place once again on Saturday, May 18, 2013 at the Florida Citrus Bowl from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.  

OS91 is participating in their "drawing of chance" program - a raffle. Each ticket is a $1 donation. You do not have to be present to win. The winners will be posted on the Charity Challenge website for all to see.



Prizes include: VACATION PACKAGES, CRUISE PACKAGES,
55" Plasma/ LED TV, Blue Ray Players 
TICKETS to Theme Parks: Disney, Universal, Wet n Wild, Sea World, Busch Gardens and Movie Theater tickets
GIFT CARDS to Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Outback, Walmart, Target, JCP, Sears
Play Station 2 & games, X Box games, MP3 Player CDs, DVD for children Microwave, Jewelry and more!!!



$5 minimum for Paypal: www.OS91.com/donate . Call OS91 at 877-820-7467 to make a $1 donation by credit/debit card for a ticket. To donate by check (or money order) make checks payable to Operation Safety 91 & send to address below.

The drawing takes place during the Charity Challenge XXVIII Event on May 18th. In order to be eligible to win a prize, OS91 must have all donations processed before that date to make sure ticket stubs will be turned in before the drawing.



Help OS91 make Psalm 91 cards and expand our outreach to all Responders: Firefighters, EMS, Law Enforcement and Military. 425,000 Psalm 91 cards have been made and distributed to date. Four million to go! Help us help them with God's Covenant of Protection: Psalm 91.

Operation Safety 91
13750 W. Colonial Drive, Suite 350
Winter Garden, FL 34787

Monday, March 11, 2013

5th Annual Tribute to Honor America's 1st Responders

 
February 22, 2013 OS91 hosted its 5th Annual Tribute to Honor America's 1st Responders at the Rosen Centre Hotel on International Drive in Orlando. "The best yet!' was heard over and over after the deluxe Luncheon and Tribute with almost 400 attendees.

Deluxe Luncheon for Responders

Orange County Sheriff's Office Honor Guard kicks off OS91's 5th Annual Tribute
Firefighters, EMS, Law Enforcement, Police, Military, Dispatch and Corrections Officers from about one dozen counties throughout Florida came to be honored and thanked for their service by Operation Safety 91 and the supporting businesses, organizations, and civilians present. 

EmCee,Tony Mainolfi, Chief Meteorologist of WESH 2

Tim Kaufman sang "I Believe In America!
This year's Event was live streamed by Al Haslam, OS91 Board member and Regional Head of Face to Face Live, Inc. (www.facetofacelive.com/). This was a dream come true for OS91, and made our Event available for viewing during and after the Event for all those Responders, Responder Chaplains, and Responder Ministries with whom we partner from all over the world. In fact, during the Event a Responder present received this text from his son currently serving in Afghanistan: "I'm watching!"

OS91 National Spokesperson COL Danny McKnight
with OS91 Board member Kurt Hilton
The Event special speaker was OS91 National Spokesperson, COL Danny McKnight, U.S. Army (Ret.) of "Black Hawk Down" renown. (www.dannymcknight.com/). Not sure that there was a dry eye in "The Hall of Heroes" Ballroom as COL described an incident of a young soldier hit by an IED during his trip to Afghanistan in 2011. As this wounded warrior was being taken into Emergency Surgery, COL leaned down and gave him one sentence of hope, which has blossomed into what will be a life long friendship. COL McKnight was given a very spontaneous standing ovation by all present as he left the stage.  

K-9 Officers and their 4 legged partner Officers honored
Operation Safety 91 honors all Responders of all disciplines each year at our Tribute Events, with an emphasis on one group. This year's emphasis was on Police and Law Enforcement, including K-9 and Equine Mounted Patrol. 

Keynote Speaker: Officer Jorge Diaz
Our Keynote Speaker was Jorge Diaz, co-founder of Officer of the Lord Ministries (www.officerofthelord.com/), a Military Veteran, currently a Police Officer and Police Chaplain serving in West Miami Police Department. Jorge spoke to the Responders heart-to-heart instructing them in their own language how to be supernaturally protected from harm in a very dangerous profession. 
Jorge is the Author of "Your Shield and Buckler", which is Psalm 91 for Police, LEOs, and SWAT. Thanks to Officer Diaz's generosity, each attendee was given a complimentary copy of his book! Jorge and his partner, Retired SGT Terrell Duke of Hialeah PD, shared some testimonies of the miraculous protection of Psalm 91.

Chief Paul Rooney of Orlando Police Department
thanks Mary after Event

Fire Chief Carle Bishop of Clermont
making plans with Mary for 7th Annual Tribute!

High ranking Military present

Groveland and Minneola Responders and Chaplains
with COL McKnight

Former NYPD with Ed

Finale by Tim Kaufman - "God Bless America"

A heartfelt thank you to our Sponsors


GOLD
Rosen Centre Hotel

SILVER - TABLE
Baldwin-Fairchild
Christ Family International Church
Coastal Hyundai
Cocoa Hyundai
COL Danny R. McKnight USA (Ret.)
CPH Engineers
Face To Face Live, Inc.
New Hope Christian Academy
Orlando Police Department
SeaWorld
Star & Shield Group
Terry Lea Pepin
UNO Chicago Grill
Vertical Aitch
BRONZE
Baldwin-Fairchild - Floral Arrangements
Flowers For You
Kelly’s Food Service
Orange County Sheriff’s Office
Service By Air - Donation of Event Programs
Space Coast Intelligent Solutions, Inc.


AUDIO VISUAL SUPPORT
Central Florida Fire Academy


SPECIAL THANKS
Tony Mainolfi and WESH 2 News
Speakers, Bagpipers, Singers, Volunteers, & Staff